Macke takes over reins of Colonials program
Albert Gallatin’s boys basketball team has a new coach and new classification for the 2024-25 season.
Former West Virginia basketball player Spencer Macke takes over for Shea Fleenor who stepped down after guiding the Colonials for the past 12 years, and AG was bumped up into Class 5A.
Macke got off to a quick start as Albert Gallatin won its first two games over West Mifflin and Carrick and he has a positive outlook on his first year as a high school head coach.
“I think we’re capable of winning a good amount of games this year and surprising a lot of people,” Macke said. “I like what we’ve got inside and outside. I really like our bigs. I think that’s going to be one of our selling points moving forward.”
Macke hadn’t settled on a solid starting five early in the season mostly due to his squad’s depth.
“I’m going to change the starting lineup kind of game to game,” Macke said. “I can go nine-to-10 deep.”
One of those is first-year senior Xavier Rice, whose nickname was, fittingly, “Nightmare” as a football linebacker that gave opposing offenses fits this past season.
“Xavier has never played varsity basketball before, but he’s a big and he’s in the rotation and will probably start every game,” Macke said. “He’s a great kid and is a power inside in helping us on the boards. Our other bigs are seniors Jason Jackson and Jeremiah Darnell. I think between those three we have a solid group that can stick with anybody in the region.”
Running the offense will be senior Shymere Wilson.
“We’ve got real good leadership with Shymere who will be our point guard,” Macke said. “I think he’s had a great attitude so far and does a good job of commanding the floor.”
Juniors Chase White, Ethan Kennedy and Adam Pegg, and sophomores Mekhi Belt and Darrin Ford are also expected to be key players for AG.
Darrin Ford, I don’t know if he played a lot last year, but he’s our three right now and has a ton of potential,” Macke said. “He’s good off the bounce. He hasn’t found his shooting touch yet but we’re working out some kinks with that. I think he will be a top player in 5A moving forward. He’s long, he’s got good size, about 6-3, 6-4, and moves real good. He can play a two or three and can also play a big, play a four sometimes.”
Guards are Belt, Kennedy, White and Pegg.
“All do real good things and bring a little something different to the table, but they’re interchangeable in a lot of ways,” Macke said. “White’s a good shooter/slasher, Pegg is a slasher/mid-range shooter, defender, Belt is a real good slasher and defender, and Kennedy can shoot and is a good all-around player.”
Macke has a trio of freshmen he’s high on as well in Chase Goletz, Elliot Sines and Pierson Turner.
“They might not play a ton this season but they will contribute at some point and I feel will have good careers,” Macke said. “Their bodies aren’t fully developed yet but they’re good at what they do. Goletz is a ball handler, a good driver and a good shooter. Sines is a bigger player but he’ll be a two guard, three guard. He has a good feel for the game, finishes around the rim well and can step out and shoot.”
Macke prefers full-court pressure on defense but will pick his spots on when to use it.
“I like pressing but there are games where we won’t do that as we get scouts on some of our opponents,” he said. “I like our man to man in the halfcourt, I prefer that. We can also run a 2-3, we can run a 3-2.”
The Colonials went 9-11 overall and 3-7 in Section 3-AAAA last season under Fleenor and were in the playoff hunt until the final game of the regular season
Macke commended the former AG coach.
“I do think that Shea Fleenor did a real good job with them, especially transition- and pressing-wise,” Macke said. “They know where they’re supposed to be in the 1-2-2 and they can run a break real well. I do like some of the stuff Mr. Fleenor had that I inherited. He did a great job when he was there.”
This year AG will compete in Section 1-AAAAA along with rivals Uniontown and Laurel Highlands. The section also includes Latrobe, Franklin Regional, Gateway, McKeesport and Penn-Trafford.
Macke’s coaching staff includes Justin Goletz, Buddy Quertinmont, junior varsity coach Tim Dye and freshman coach Jeff Kopas.